With original music and arrangements from jazz drummer Billy Kilson, Tim Hicks of the Cornel West Theory, Hec Dolo, Andre McKnight, Jake Freeman, and Bashi Rose and readings, commentary and performances by David Johnson (former comrade), Umar bin Hasan, Maisi and Marley Ball, Bali and Conal Rose, Tallulah Gabriel, Rebel Diaz, K. Amori, Son of Nun, Slangston Hughes, Eddie Conway, Norman Jackson, Bilal Rahman, Laini Mataka, Tim Hicks and Falani Spivey.”
Black August originated in the concentration camps of California to honor fallen Freedom Fighter, George Jackson among several others.On January 12, 1960 at the age of eighteen George Jackson was sentence to one year to life for a $70 gas station robbery. He served 11 years and 7 months, with seven of those years on solitary confinement. On August 21, 1971 he was assassinated. In the intervening years Jackson transformed himself into a brilliant writer and the leading theoretician of the prison movement.
A discussion with Jared Ball will follow the film, exploring the evolution of Black August commenorations and its relevance within the contemporary Movement for Black Lives.